Pizza

This was us - The Volkswagen is my camper van, I put the machine on the back for that event.

if south northants you can count on my custom :)

No I haven't heard of Jon Gregory. The sums are frightening, especially in London I imagine. Take a look at caterkwik.co.uk We put together a quote for about 30k worth of equipment for just about evrything you need to open a shop including the oven and their leasing came in at about £500/month over 5 years. That's a massive lump sum sorted out, has tax benefits too.

500 a month!?!? Thats crazy good. What the hell am I waiting for?
I need ot get thinking, seriously...

the nice thing about lease is that it's just offset as an operating cost against turnover; no assets to depreciate, no tax if you sell the equipment on.

Defo.

Property found...
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/commercial-property-for-sale/property-51482152.html
Refit.
Make pizza.
Profit.
How do you plan on making your dough? Big dough mixers?

Ha! There's a bakery I've got a good relationship with, they're very knowledgable and skilled. They'll do sourdough pizza balls for 40p a pop to collect daily. They'll give us all the advice on storage and proving etc too. We'd probably start making our own when we're established and have time to look at tis stuff. To begin with I think it's a good idea to buy in a reliable product.

40p is VERY good. When I worked at Pizza express I think their balls of frozen hell were 50p a pop. Or that might have been a whole margarita, maybe.
Sounds like you are in a good place. I wish I wasn't afraid of change. Let me know if you are a millionaire this time next year and maybe I will man up.
I got pretty into planning this out in my last full time roll, kept the boredom away.

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It's always bloody item 03 isn't it

Every. Bloody. Time.

Visualisation is important, keeps the motivation up. Writing a comprehensive business plan makes it seem within reach. It's not about manning up, it's about reaching the stage where you have the confidence (based on real experience) that the idea will work. That just comes to you out of the blue I found, I am naturally risk-averse but I think the only way to find fulfilment in making a living is to have my own business. Do the business plan, that's the way forward.

Where would I even start?!
Make pizza. Sell. Profit. Or not?

You need someone who knows what they're doing. The guy I'm doing this with has a business degree, these people are not thin on the ground, you probably know someone. You need an evening to sit down and get all the headings together, then you figure out each section. Setup costs, ongoing costs, how many staff at what rate of pay at each period of the day, what proportion of takeaway, how much profit is there in wine? yadayada, it goes on and on but when you start on it it snowballs and you have a very useful document which means you are not just guessing at stuff. You're still guessing but you have rationale behind it....

..which gives credibility if you go for a small business loan

Currently seeing an Italian, my eyes have been opened to advanced pizzas, a few of my favourites:

goats cheese, tomato, bacon, plum

golden plum, almonds, whisky

chocolate, orange zest, clotted cream calzone.

next time we make some, ill be sure to take some photos :)

Probably a bit far for most people but if anyone is ever in Norwich go to brick . Very good pizzas and friendly staff as well.

Had one in Palermo with chestnut puree on, absolutely delish

Another reason for me to move back...

Has anyone worked out what is in Ecco Pizza (Soho)'s chilli sauce? Holy Jesus.

Also stilton, tuna, anchovie, sardine and caper pizza - yukkers.

Start up costs might be a bit cheaper here...

Went to The Dynamo for lunch. Was great. Potato/ Rosemary/ Taleggio. mmmm

You're a bugger Hatbeard. I dithered for a couple of days and missed a discount level, but now ordered one too. Likewise can't wait!

You're a bugger Hatbeard. I dithered for a couple of days and missed a discount level, but now ordered one too. Likewise can't wait!

I sold it to myself by saying basically they'll be too expensive once they go full rrp for me to ever be able to justify buy one so getting one at a discount was basically the only smart move.

I was no. 8 on the list of buyers on indiegogo and i'm guessing you're around the 1300 mark so will be interesting to see how they are dispatched and if we get them around the same time.

I'll post when mine arrives - did you go for the eye-searing green, or the staid grey?

I'm also dithering over getting a sous-vide. The idea of sous-vide-ing a steak to perfection then flashing it off at 500C in the oven is making me drool.